Marking or canceling machine.



W. L. BOWLUS.

MARKING 0R CANGELING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED I'EB.13, 1911.

1 ,O42,75-9. Patented Oct. 29, 1912.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1,

,Fja 1 W. L. BOWLUS.

MARKING 0R GANGELING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB-13.1911.

Patented Oct. 29, 1912.

3 SHEETS--SHEET Z.

W. L. BO'WLUS.

MARKING 0R GANGELING MACHINE.

APPLIOATION FILED FEB.13, 1911.

Patented Oct. 29, 1912.v

3 8HEETSSHEET 3.

1 I I I I I I I I I l l 1 I l I I I I I I [N Vim/Tara,

mm A. max.

WARREN L. BOWLUS, 0F SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS.

MARKING OR CANGELING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 29, 1912.

Application filed February 13, 1911. Serial No. 608,263.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WARREN L. BowLUs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Springfield, in the county of Sangamon and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Marking 01' Canceling Machines, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to devices for separating-and feeding envelops, postal cards and like articles and for canceling the stamps and otherwise'marking the articles, and 'ithas for its objects the production of a device of the character stated in which the articles are fed from a magazine in rapid succession in overlapped or shingle-fashion, and are projected between suitably arranged and embossed marking and canceling rollers, whereby they are suitably marked and the stamps thereon are canceled.

A further object of the invention is the production of a machine that is capable of more rapid work than machines of this character heretofore constructed, and one in which the construction is simple and not liable to get out of order.

A further object is to so construct the separating and feeding devices as to make the engagement with the articles positive.

ith the above stated objects in view I have invented a machine for the purpose stated and have illustrated one embodiment thereof in the accompanying drawing, in which- Figure 1 is a plan view, the inking roller being broken away but its position being indicated by broken lines; Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1 and looking in the direction of the arrows thereon; Fig. 3 is a side elevation, on a smaller scale. showing the front part of the machinez'l ig. 4 is a section taken on the line 44 of Fig. 2 and looking toward the front end of the machine; Fig. 5 is a detail view of the drive shaft, the driving sprockets and other parts mounted thereon being shown in section, and Fig. 6 is a perspective view showing a detail.

The separating, feeding and canceling mechanisms are mounted in any suitable fcrm of frame. the drawings showing an open, box-like casting A. the same being rec tangular in plan. At its forward end the frame is provided on each side with a pair of upwardly extending projections 3 and, near their centers, the sides of the frame are provided with elongated slots C, a pair of similar slots D being located in the top of the frame opposite the slots C.

Journaled in the sides of the frame, and extending transversely across the same, is a shaft 1, the same being shown in detail in Fig. \Vhile the power for driving the machine may be applied to any one of the several shafts hereinafter referred to, I have chosen to apply it to the shaft 1, and have therefore shown a pulley 2 on this shaft, the same being adapted for a belt, although it is to be understood that the power may be transmitted to this shaft through gearing of any suitable type, or a driving motor may be attached directly to it. At a suitable point, I secure to said shaft a pinion 8,'from which power is transmitted, through an idler pinion 4, to a pinion 5 that is secured to the shaft 6 of the lower roller 7 of the printing or canceling couple. The shaft 6 has secured to it a gear 8 that meshes with a gear 9 of the same size on the canceling roller 10, whereby the two rollers are driven together, the latter gear and roller being secured to a shaft 11. As appears from Fig. 1, the shaft 11 is journaled in bearing pieces 12 that rest yieldingly upon the upper ends of the projections B of the main frame, the same being held downwardly by springs 13 that are coiled about stud bolts 14, said bolts being tapped into said projections and passing through the journal bearing pieces 12. For tensioning the springs 13, suitable nuts 15 are employed in a manner well under stood. By this means, the rollers 7 and 10 are held together with a yielding pressure so as to grasp the article passing therethrough with sufficient force to feed it forwardly, and yet said rollers are capable of spreading apart to accommodate themselves to various thicknesses of articles.

The roller 10 is preferably reduced in diameter throughout the greater part of its,

length so as'to'provide projecting rings 16 that contact with the roller? of the feeding couple, said rings being arranged in any desired manner. This roller 10 is also provided with a series of equally spaced canceling members 17, each of said members being provided with a marking design thatis embossed on their outer surfaces, as is sho .vn in Figs. 1 and 4. In'longitudinal alincment with each of the canceling members 17 the roller is also provided with an embossed ranged one above the other.

thicknesses of articles.

each provided with a collar 31 upon which dating or marking stamp 18. The marking and canceling impressions are preferably made with ink that is applied to the members 17 and the stamps 18 of the roller by an inking roller 19, the same being secured to a shaft 20 that is journaled in bearing blocks 21, said blocks being mounted for adjustment toward and from the roller 10 in slotted standards 22 that are secured to the bearing pieces 12 for the roller 10. By this construction, the inking roller moves with the canceling roller toward and from the roller 7. For securing the desired contact between the inking roller and the canceling and dating stamps, the standards 22 each carry a set screw 23 that passes through the standard and bears against the corresponding block 21.

As shown, the frame A is provided with g". a set of projections B on each side, and the rollers above the upper surface of the table are journaled at each ,of their ends. The frame is made wide enough to accommodate articles of any ordinary length, so that the bearings at that side of the machine opposite the canceling stamps will olfer no obstruction to the passage of the articles. It is to be understood, however,-that the rollers above the top plane of the frame may be journaled at one end only andthe machine thus be adapted for canceling and marking articles of greater length.

The articles to be marked and canceled are supplied to the rollers 7 and 10 from a magazine that is carried by the main frame in front of the said rollers. This magazine consists of a rear member the same having stationary angled uprights 24 at each end, said uprights being secured to the opposite sides of. the frame A by suitable brackets 25. These uprights are preferably joined together by one or more cross braces 26, Fig. 1, and each of said uprights is provided with a pair of forwardly extending lugs 27 ar- Each of these lugs is provided with a vertical eye, through which extends a bearing post 28, said posts having journal bearings at their lower ends for a shaft 29 of a roller 30. 'In front of I said roller the magazine is formed with a throat through which the articles are fed, the latter passing beneath the roller 30, which is so mounted as to yield vertically and thus accommodate itself to various The posts 28 are bears the lower end of a spring 32 that surrounds the post. The upper end of each post passes longitudinally through a sleeve nut 33, the same being threaded exteriorly and passing through the upper lug 27. This sleeve nut engages,the corresponding spring 32, and by means of it the tension of said spring may be varied as desired.

As is shown in Fig. 5, the drive shaft l has secured thereto a pair of spool shaped members the same having an enlarged roller portion 34, for a purpose hereinafter stated, and a flanged portion 35, to the latter of which is secured a sprocket wheel 36, there being one of these members and sprocket wheels at each side of the machine. Near the front end of the frame I journal a transverse shaft 37 and secure to the same a pair of sprocket wheels 38 in alinement with the sprocket wheels 36. Upon the sprocket wheels I mount a sprocket chain 39 at each side of the machine, said chains being of the type common in bicycles, and consisting of blocks that are connected together by side links, the blocks being spaced apart so as to receive the teeth of the sprocket wheels between them. To each of the blocks of the chains I secure transversely extending plates 40, said plates extending from the block of one chain to the corresponding block of the opposite chain, whereby the chains are secured together and made into what may be termed a belt. As is indicated in Fig. 1, each of the bars 40 is provided with a longitudinal row of small perforations through which project the outer ends of needles or pins 41. These needles are secured to' needle bars 42, said bars extending parallel with the plates 40 and being slightly out of vertical alinement therewith in order to cause the needles 41 to be inclined, as shown in Fig. 2. The needle bars are carried by the plates 40, and are so mounted thereonas to be capable ofmovement toward and from their respective plates, whereby the needleipoints may be projected through the plates 40 for a slight distance, or may be retracted so as to be substantially flush with the outer surfaces thereof. For supporting the needle bars, the plates 40 are each provided with two' or more sleeve bosses 43, the same being secured to their respective plates in any suitable manner and being inclined to the planes of the plates so as to have the same inclination as the needles. Each of the needle bars is provided with a pin 44 for each of the bosses on the corresponding plate 40, which ins extend into their respective bosses, bemg guided therein, and being capable of a slight motion back and forth in the bosses.

The ends of the plates 40 project slightly beyond the sprocket wheels and over guide lips 45 on the main frame, whereby the belt is held from sagging. The needle bars 42 are depressed so as to retract the needles just before-the latter reach the forward edge of the article to be fed, said operation being effected by cams 46 that are formed by the 5 ends of a bar 47, said bar being carried by a plate 48 that extends across the machine, the same being secured at its ends to bracket members 49. These latter members are partly on the inside and partly on the outside of the main frame, their lower ends projecting through the slots C and their upper ends extendin over the top edges of the main frame an being secured to the upright angle pieces 24 of the magazine. In this manner the front side of the magazine is connected rigidly with the cams 46. In order to accommodate envelops or articles of different widths, the front side 24" of the magazine is made adjustable, the bracket members 49 sliding back and forth in the slots C. For securing these parts in their adjusted positions, the bracket members 49 are provided with bolts 50 that extend through the slots 'D in the frame A, these bolts being provided with thumb nuts 51 so that the bracket members may be clamped to the frame.

As will be seen by reference to Fig. 6, the plate 48 carries a leaf spring 52 substantially midway its length, the free end of the spring being turned forwardly so as to extend between the cams 46 and in a plane below the latter. As the plates 40 move rear- 2 wardly, or in the direction of the arrow on Fig. 2, the ends of the needle bars 42 engage the under surfaces of the cams 46 and slide under the latter. Before they pass beyond the cams they engage with the spring 52 and tension it. This movement, of course, re-

tracts the needles; and, as soon-as a needle bar passes the cams, the spring 52 throws the needle bar outwardly and causes its needles to stab the envelop or other article to be fed. The continued movement of the feeding belt carries the article thus caught with it into the bite "of the canceling and stamping rollers. 0 The feeding belt may be driven rapidly operated in very rapid succession, and a very large number of articles may be fed in any given time. As shown in Fig. 2, the magazine is adjusted to almost its minimum width, and yet it has a width that is greater than the distance between three successive rows of needles. It follows, therefore, that the articles are fed in overlapped condition, or in shingle-fashion, and that there must be a canceling and dating stamp on the impressionroller 10 for each article. These stamps are, therefore, so spaced on this roller as to mark each article passing beneath it.

After the needle bar has passed beyond the spring 52 it would drop out of engagement with the article if some means were not provided for maintaining this engagement. For this purpose, therefore, I connect with the plate 48, on each side of the machine, a bracket 53 that projects toward the rear, said bracket having its side rabbeted at 54' to receive a guiding bar 55. In Fig. 6 this construction is illustrated, the cooperating parts 65 being separated and spaced apart so as'to so as to cause the needle bars thereon to be a make the same clear. The brackets 53 are each provided with elongated slots 56 through which a pin 57 on the guiding bar is adapted to extend. As has been stated, the plate 48 is moved back and forth in adjusting the magazine, and this, of course, carries the brackets 53 with it. Stationarily mounted in the frame atthe rear of the bar 48 are brackets 58, the samehaving rearwardly projecting members 59 that lie alongside the brackets 53, said members each having a slot 60 therein through which a pin 61on the guiding bar 55 is adapted to extend. The members 59 are each curved at their rear ends to conform to the parts 34 of the spool-shaped members on the main shaft, which parts extend upwardly into line with the upper surfaces of the brackets 53 and 59. It being remembered that the brackets 59 are stationary while the brackets 53 are movable with the plate 48, itwill be understood that when the latter plate is movedtoward the front end of the slot C, the guiding bar 55-will stretch between the brackets 53 and 59, and the upper surfaces of these guide bars and brackets will hold the needle bars outwardly with the needles in engagement with the articles they are feeding until the needle bars are carriedv about the drive'shaft, said bars being held outwardly as they pass about the shaft by the parts 34 on said shaft.

As has been stated, the needle bars 42 stand at an angle so as to inclinethe needles. In order that these bars may lie flat on their guiding brackets 53 and 59, and may also lie flat on the spring 52, they are given a partial twist, as shown at 62 in .Fig. 4.

While I have shown and described an embodiment of my invention that is well adapted for usewith all but the extraordinarily large sizes of articles and have stated how .the rollers above the frame may be jourf naled for use with such latter articles, I realize that the details of'the invention may be greatly modified and desire it to be understood that the following claims are not intended to be limited to such details any further than is rendered necessary by the specific'terms therein employed. 1

Having thus described my invention what I-claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: 1. Ina device of the character described, the combination with an endless feeding belt, of means from which, articles to be fed are supplied to said belt, of a series of devices on the belt for engaging the articles in succession and feeding the same forward in overlapped or shingle-fashion, a pair of rollers for receiving the articles from the feeding belt, and a series of impression members on one ofsaid rollers, said members being spaced proportionately with the feeding devices on the belt, whereby each of the articles receives an impression.

needles arranged on said feeding belt to en,- gage the articles in the magazine and feed them therefrom, means for causing the suc- :essive series of needles to engage the successive articles in the magazine, the said serles of needles being so spaced on the belt as to cause the articles to be fed in overlapped or shingle-fashion, a pair of canceling rollers between which the articles are fed by slid belt and means on one of said rollers for marking each article passing the same.

3. In a device of the character described, the combination with an endless feeding belt and means for driving'the same, of a magazine for articles, a plurality of series of needles arranged on said feeding belt to en gage the articles in the. magazine and feed them therefrom, means for causin the successive series of needles to engage t e successive articles in the magazine, the said series of needles being so spaced on the belt as to cause the articles to be fed in overlapped or shingle-fashion, a pair of canceling rollers between which the articles are fed by said belt, means on one of said rollers for marking each article passing the same, and an inking device for the said roller.

*4. In a device of the character described, the combination with a magazine for containing articles to be fed, of an endless traveling belt, means for driving said belt, a plurality of series of needles carried by said belt, means for retracting said needles and for then projecting the same against the artides in the magazine whereby the needles are caused to penetrate the articles, a pair of rollers for receiving the articles from the belt, and a series of impression members on one of said rollers, said members being spaced on the surface of the roller proportionately with the spacing of the series of needles on the belt, whereby each article that is fed through the rollers receives an impression.

5. In a device of the character described, the combination with a magazine for containing articles to be fed, of an endless travcling belt, means for driving said belt, a plurality of series of needles carried by said belt, said needles being inclined in the direction that the articles are to be fed, means for retracting said needles and for then projecting the same against the articles in the magazine whereby the needles are caused to penetrate the articles, a pair of rollers for receiving the articles from the belt, a series of 1m ression members on one of said rollers, said members being spaced on the surface of the roller proportionately with the spacing of the series of needles on the belt, whereby each article that is fed through the rollers receives an impression, and means for inking the impression members.

6. In a device of the character described, the combination with a magazine for articles, means whereby one part of said magazine may be adjusted in position for different sized articles, a series of needles, means for moving said needles for feeding the 1 article from the magazine, means connected with the movable part of the magazine for retracting said needles, a spring also conequi-distantly, means connected with the adjustable side of the magazine for causing the different series of needles to engage with the articles in the magazine, the said series being so spaced on the belt as to cause the articles to be fed in overlapped or shinglefashion, a pair of rollers for receiving the articles from the belt, and means on one of said rollers for marking each article as it passes the rollers.

8. In a device of the character described, the combination with a main frame, of a magazine mounted on said frame, means whereby one side of the magazine may be moved upon the frame and secured thereto in different positions to accommodate the size of the magazine to the size of the articles to be fed, a pair of shafts journaled in said frame, an endless traveling belt pass ing about said shafts, means for driving said shafts, a plurality of series of needles carried by the belt, said needles being inclined in the direction of their movements, means carried by the adjustable side of the magazine for causing the needles of the series to successively engage the articles in the magazine, whereby said articlesare fed, the series of needles being so spaced on the belt as to cause the articles to be fed in overlapped or shingle-fashion, a pair of rollers for receiving the articles from the belt, a plurality of impression members on one of said rollers, and an inking roller for supplying ink to said impression members.

9. In a device of the character described, the combination with a frame, of a magazine mounted on said frame, means whereby one side of said magazine may be adjusted on said frame to accommodate articles of various sizes, a pair of shafts journaled in the frame, a sprocket wheel secured to each shaft at each side of the frame, a sprocket chain at each side of the frame and passing over the sprocket wheels at that side, a plurality of plates extending transversely across the frame from one sprocket chain to the other, said plates being secured at their ends to the said chains, a series of needle bars carried by the said plates, there being a needle bar for each plate and said bars being so mounted as to be capable of moving toward and from its respective plate,.

a plurality of needles secured to each bar and projecting through the respective plates, means carried by the adjustable side of the magazine for causing the needle bars to be projected toward their respective plates and the needles on said bars to be driven into the articles in the magazine, whereby the articles are fed, the said plates and needle bars being so spaced as to cause the articles to be fed in overlapped or shingle-fashion, means for holding the needles in engagement with the articles during the feeding operation, a pair of rollers between which the articles are fed by the needles, and a series of impression members on one of said rollers, said members being spaced thereon proportionately with the spacing of the plates on the sprocket chains.

10. In a device of the character described, the combination with a frame, of a magazine mounted on said frame, means whereby one side of said magazine may be adjusted on said frame to accommodate articles of various sizes, a pair of shafts journaled in the frame, a sprocket wheel secured to each shaft at each side of the frame, a sprocket chain at each side of the frame and passing over the sprocket wheels at that side, a plurality of plates extending transversely across the frame from one sprocket chain to the other, said plates being secured at their ends to the said chains, a series of needle bars carried by the said plates, there being a needle bar for each plate and said bars being 50 mounted as to be capable of movement toward and from its respective plate, a plurality of needles secured to each bar and projecting through the respective plate, means carried by the adjustable side of the magazine for causingthe needle bars to be projected toward their respective plates and the needles on said bars to be driven into the articles in the magazine, whereby the articles are fed, the said plates and needle bars being so spaced as to cause the articlesto be fed in overlapped or shingle-fashion, means for holding the needles in engagement with the articles during the feeding operation, a pair of rollers between which the articles are fed by the needles, a series of impression members on one of said rollers, said members being spaced thereon proportionately with the spacing of the plates on the sprocket chains, and means for-supplying ink to the impression members.

11. In a device of the character described, the combination with a frame, of a magazine mounted on said frame, means whereby one side of the magazine may be adjusted on the frame, a plate extending across the frame and being secured to the adjustable side of the magazine, a pair of cams carried by said plate, a pair of shafts journaled in the frame, an endless feeding belt passing about said shafts, means for driving the shafts, a plurality of needle bars carried by said belt and spaced equidistantly thereon, a series of needles secured to each bar, said needles being inclined in the direction of movement of the belt, the needle bars being adapted to engage the said cams and be moved thereby toretract the needles, a spring carried by the said plate against which spring the bars are moved by the cams, said spring being adapted to throw the bars and the needles outwardly and to cause the latter to engage the articles in the magazine, extensible guiding means connected with the said plate for holding the needle bars and needles in their feeding po sitions, a pair of rollers for receiving the articles from'the needles, and means on one of said rollers for marking the articles passing between the rollers.

12. In a device of the character described, the combination with a frame, of a magazine mounted on said frame, said magazine having a stationary and a movable part, means for securing the movable part of the magazine in different positions of adjustment, a roller carried by the stationary part of the magazine, said roller being mounted for movement toward and from the said frame, springs for pressing the roller toward the said frame, means for feeding articles from the magazine beneath the said roller thereon, said means being so constructed as to feed the articles in overlapped or shingle fashion, a pair of rollers for receiving the articles after they pass from the magazine, and means on one of said rollers for marking the articles. I

In testimony whereof, I hereunto afiix my signature in the presence of two wit; asses.

WARREN L. BOW LUS.

I/Vitnesses:

C. E. Bonn, A. E. FLEMING. 

